By – Laws

Article I — Name

The name of this organization shall be Livestock Publications Council

Article II — Purpose

Livestock Publications Council shall be a non-profit international organization, the purpose of which shall be:

To drive the livestock communications industry forward through excellence in professional development, networking, and student programs—while preserving the foundation of traditional print publications.

To support publications as they continue telling the livestock industry’s story via print, social, video, and digital media.

To promote understanding and cooperation among all facets of the livestock industry.

To support all organizations and institutions dedicated to furthering the livestock industry.

To encourage and support research and activities designed to further the livestock industry.

To foster and preserve the traditions of the livestock industry which are consistent with its progress.

To carry on other activities deemed by the Membership and/or Officers and Directors to meet with the standards and goals of the organization. These activities include, but are not limited to: education, leadership, networking opportunities, and student development.

To conduct meetings on matters involved in livestock communications and the Livestock Publications Council.

To maintain membership listing of publications and affiliated membership types serving the livestock industry. Membership listings will contain appropriate contact information, along with facts pertaining to the readership, extent and geographical spread of circulation, and the advertising rates of each publication for use of the Membership.

To disseminate information for members to keep them additionally knowledgeable of matters pertaining to livestock communications enterprises.

For the purpose of this organization, the term “livestock industry” refers to the production and marketing of beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, poultry used for food production (broilers, laying hens), llamas and ranch/game species such as elk, deer and bison. Excluded from membership are publications for small fur-bearing species and species generally regarded as exotic animals.

Article III — Membership

Membership in this organization shall be international and is categorized by publication or service membership.

Publication Memberships shall be classified as a traditional publication or digital publication.
a) Publication members shall be limited to those magazines, newspapers and other periodicals (published on a regular basis four or more times each year) devoting 50 percent or more of average content to the livestock industry. Traditional publications may operate and publish in digital outlets in addition to a printed publication.

b) Digital publication members shall be limited to a digital publisher, a publishing company or an entity that publishes media to the public via specified digital channels devoting 75 percent or more of average content to the livestock industry.

Service memberships are also open to those individuals, firms and organizations that service the livestock industry, but do not meet eligibility requirements as publication members. These Service and Freelancer/Contractor members may participate in all Council activities including voting and holding office.

Annual dues for each publication, firm or organization are payable the first of each calendar year. All payments are to be in U.S. dollars. A membership renewal period may be set by LPC leadership. 

Fees, dues and other member requirements may be revised by a majority vote of the members present at an annual meeting.

Voting in all regular and special meetings of the Council shall be by each member publication’s, firm’s or organization’s single, designated representative present.

Excluded from publication membership would be those publications whose primary purpose is to promote the publisher’s own specific products or services, and that advertise only products or services of the publisher or a subsidiary that is owned and/or controlled by the same organization that owns or controls the publication. However, these publications may join as Service members with all Association benefits.

Article IV — Directors

The LPC Board of Directors will consist of 11 LPC members, comprised of LPC Publication, LPC Service members, and LPC Freelance/Contractor members. Service members will occupy a minimum of two seats on the LPC Board and may never represent more than 40% of the entire Board of Directors. Freelance/Contractor members are considered Service members in the interest of the LPC Board of Directors. 

Directors shall be elected by the general membership in annual meeting. Nominations may be made by a nominating committee appointed by the President, and/or by members from the floor.

Directors shall be elected for a period of three years, except that in the first annual meeting one-third will be elected for three years, one-third for two years and one-third for one year in order that the terms may be staggered. No individual may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms on the LPC Board of Directors, not including time served on the LPC Executive Committee or time served fulfilling an uncompleted term of another director. After term limits are met, individuals must sit out at least one year and then would be eligible for re-election to the LPC Board of Directors.

It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to make Council decisions and establish policy for the Officers on Council matters arising between meetings.

Once elected, directors are expected to attend all scheduled meetings of the LPC Board of Directors, including the annual summer meetings and the mid-winter meeting. If a director misses more than one meeting in a year, then the Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove the director in question if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss a director.

If an elected board of director’s status as an LPC member changes due to a change in employment during his/her term, that person shall be allowed to finish the term, pending board approval. This shall include regular members who become service members, service members who become regular members, or either regular members or service members who become ineligible for membership due to their new employment status. The LPC Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove a director if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss said director.

If the director chooses not to fulfill the term, the board of directors of LPC shall appoint an individual to complete that term in cases where a successor is not provided for in the by-laws.

Article V — Officers

These shall be the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director. 

The President, Vice Presidents and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected by the membership in annual meeting. Any elected officer who takes office while in good standing with LPC, and complies with all requirements for membership and office, shall be allowed to complete the current term of office if that individual’s status changes during the term, if the individual so chooses. If the individual chooses not to fulfill the term of office, the board of directors of LPC shall appoint an individual to complete that term in cases where a successor is not provided for in the by-laws.

The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

The LPC Board of Directors has the right to vote to remove an officer if the circumstances warrant. A simple majority vote can dismiss said officer.

Article VI — Executive  Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Council officers and the Immediate Past President. It is empowered to carry out the activities of the Council as directed by the membership and/or the Board of Directors.

Article VII — Officer Duties

The President shall preside at all general meetings and at the meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors. He/she shall appoint committees as necessary, and shall carry on all of the business designated by the membership and/or the Board of Directors.

The Vice Presidents shall serve as assistants to the President and, according to rank, in the stead of the President in the absence of the President.

In dual capacity as Secretary-Treasurer, this officer shall keep minutes of all Council general and board meetings, shall record votes taken and shall carry out all other duties designated by the officers and the Board of Directors. As Treasurer, he/she shall supervise Council’s financial affairs, shall make a full financial report annually to the Board and the membership, and shall direct the Executive Director in the maintenance of Council’s accounts and the preparation of bi-annual financial reports to the Board. Authorized signatures on checks and financial documents may be either Sec’y Treasurer or Executive Director.

The Executive Director shall conduct the Council’s office, execute communications efforts, solicit additional members and associate members and carry out the instructions of the President, Vice Presidents,

Secretary-Treasurer and Board in furtherance of Council aims and activities. Shall be responsible for all general correspondence and receive and have charge of all Council funds. He/she shall, under the direction of the Secretary-Treasurer, present a bi-annual financial report to the Officers and Directors. Shall, in cooperation with the Secretary- Treasurer, prepare an annual budget to be presented to the Board. The Executive Director also shall be charged with any other financial duties pertaining to Council operation as directed by the Secretary-Treasurer.

Article VIII — Meetings

Annual meeting of the Council shall be called by the Officers and Directors for dates and locations established each year by the Executive Committee. Notice of the annual meeting shall be communicated by the Executive Director to all members prior to the meeting. Other special meetings may be called by the Officers and Directors at times and places designated by them.

Article IX — Quoram

Members present at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Article X — Amendments

Repeal or alteration of these by-laws may be made either in full or in part by a majority vote of the members present or electronic at an annual meeting or special session called by the Board of Directors.

Article XI — Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary procedure shall be as outlined by Roberts Rules of Order.

Bylaws last updated February 2023 by membership vote